Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
D2 is here!
We joyfully announce the birth of our son
Owen Nathanael
on April 28, 2010 at 2:10pm
weight: 8 lbs. 4 oz.
length: ??? (he hadn't been measured yet, as of 8pm)
The name Owen means "young warrior". It is our hope and prayer that this new little man will grow up to be a young warrior for the Lord. Nathanael means "God has given," and we are so thrilled that God has given us the blessing of another son. Nathanael was also one of Jesus' disciples (he appears in the Gospel of John and is usually called Bartholomew). He is notable for recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. It's also a nod to Naomi's brother Nathan (not Nathanael, but close). We hope that these names will portend a long life of faithful service to the Lord and that he will always know what a blessing he is -- to us and others.
Owen Nathanael
on April 28, 2010 at 2:10pm
weight: 8 lbs. 4 oz.
length: ??? (he hadn't been measured yet, as of 8pm)
The name Owen means "young warrior". It is our hope and prayer that this new little man will grow up to be a young warrior for the Lord. Nathanael means "God has given," and we are so thrilled that God has given us the blessing of another son. Nathanael was also one of Jesus' disciples (he appears in the Gospel of John and is usually called Bartholomew). He is notable for recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. It's also a nod to Naomi's brother Nathan (not Nathanael, but close). We hope that these names will portend a long life of faithful service to the Lord and that he will always know what a blessing he is -- to us and others.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
New Job
At long last, I have a new job! I start Monday, May 3rd.
I'll be the Advancement Assistant for a political advocacy group called The Family Foundation. They are active in lobbying for pro-family issues throughout Virginia, with particular focus on the General Assembly.
I know a lot of people who are active with the organization in many capacities -- on staff, volunteers, donors and on the board. The current President and I overlapped two years at the University of Richmond in the mid- to late-90s, while a number of others are active members of Third Presbyterian Church, my sending church for my time in missions. The quality of the people involved on many levels was a major draw for me.
I am excited to work alongside my coworkers and to bring my abilities and skills to bear for purposes that I believe in. I am also looking forward to working downtown. I've long harbored a dream to live and work in New York City for a year. That dream pretty much died a long time ago -- even before I married a girl from small-town Minnesota. This is probably the closest I'll get to realizing some part of it. The Family Foundation office is on the 12th floor of one of Richmond's "high-rises", a couple blocks from the Capitol. I'll have a lovely office with a view of the city below (a major improvement over my Mondial semi-cubical).
As for the work, it'll be a lot of admin and logistics ... assisting with donor relations, producing and sending out thank yous and other mailings, setting up appointments and handling a lot of the logistics behind major fund-raising events. I'll be the keeper of the main database too. But in an office of about eight people there's sure to be other areas of need and opportunities to do a wide variety of things.
I'm excited to get started, but sad to be leaving my stay-at-home-Dad life and all the time with Brennan that came with it. I see this as a gift from God though, perfectly timed to coincide with Naomi's maternity leave and the income challenges that would bring with it.
So thanks be to him! He is faithful.
And thanks to all of you who've stood with us in prayer over the last five months. We are grateful!
I'll be the Advancement Assistant for a political advocacy group called The Family Foundation. They are active in lobbying for pro-family issues throughout Virginia, with particular focus on the General Assembly.
I know a lot of people who are active with the organization in many capacities -- on staff, volunteers, donors and on the board. The current President and I overlapped two years at the University of Richmond in the mid- to late-90s, while a number of others are active members of Third Presbyterian Church, my sending church for my time in missions. The quality of the people involved on many levels was a major draw for me.
I am excited to work alongside my coworkers and to bring my abilities and skills to bear for purposes that I believe in. I am also looking forward to working downtown. I've long harbored a dream to live and work in New York City for a year. That dream pretty much died a long time ago -- even before I married a girl from small-town Minnesota. This is probably the closest I'll get to realizing some part of it. The Family Foundation office is on the 12th floor of one of Richmond's "high-rises", a couple blocks from the Capitol. I'll have a lovely office with a view of the city below (a major improvement over my Mondial semi-cubical).
As for the work, it'll be a lot of admin and logistics ... assisting with donor relations, producing and sending out thank yous and other mailings, setting up appointments and handling a lot of the logistics behind major fund-raising events. I'll be the keeper of the main database too. But in an office of about eight people there's sure to be other areas of need and opportunities to do a wide variety of things.
I'm excited to get started, but sad to be leaving my stay-at-home-Dad life and all the time with Brennan that came with it. I see this as a gift from God though, perfectly timed to coincide with Naomi's maternity leave and the income challenges that would bring with it.
So thanks be to him! He is faithful.
And thanks to all of you who've stood with us in prayer over the last five months. We are grateful!
Impending
It looks like tomorrow is going to be the big day! And, boy, are we ever ready! I'm 4cm dilated, and have only had some sporadic contractions--nothing that appears to indicate labor has actually, fully begun.
We are set to induce in the morning. Despite the desire that labor start on its own and that D2 come in his own time, I'm simply ready to be done being pregnant. While the pregnancy itself has been relatively low-stress, we've had some pretty significant circumstances add heaps of stress over the past nine months. While the end of pregnancy won't really change some of those things (it might actually create more!), I just feel like heaving a sigh of relief that the end is in sight.
At any rate, after a few weeks now of wondering when the big day will be, wondering if every little twinge or pain is a sign of impending labor, wondering if I really do need to pick up whatever I've dropped on the floor, the end is here. D2's birthday will be tomorrow (pending labor magically starting sometime before 7am tomorrow!). We are so ready.
We are set to induce in the morning. Despite the desire that labor start on its own and that D2 come in his own time, I'm simply ready to be done being pregnant. While the pregnancy itself has been relatively low-stress, we've had some pretty significant circumstances add heaps of stress over the past nine months. While the end of pregnancy won't really change some of those things (it might actually create more!), I just feel like heaving a sigh of relief that the end is in sight.
At any rate, after a few weeks now of wondering when the big day will be, wondering if every little twinge or pain is a sign of impending labor, wondering if I really do need to pick up whatever I've dropped on the floor, the end is here. D2's birthday will be tomorrow (pending labor magically starting sometime before 7am tomorrow!). We are so ready.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Waiting Game
Today marks 39 weeks. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. At 39 weeks with Brennan, I was still just over 2 weeks away from delivering him. We're optimistic that D2 will choose to make his grand entrance sooner rather than later, but really, he'll come when he wants to, not necessarily when we want him to.
And thus, the waiting game goes on and on. We're definitely ready for this little guy to come on out and meet us!
And thus, the waiting game goes on and on. We're definitely ready for this little guy to come on out and meet us!
- Hospital preregistration is done.
- Hosptial tour is done.
- Baby laundry is done.
- Hospital bag is mostly packed (except for those few things I'll need to throw in last minute)
- I've trained my co-worker to take over my responsibilities for the immediate (maybe long-term???) future.
- D2's room is ready and waiting for him.
- Birth announcement is ready to be posted on the blog
- And, boy, are we ready to finally get to share the big secret--his name!
D2, come out now!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Random Thoughts on Musical Worship
(Do I have any thoughts that aren't random?)
In recent years it has really struck me as odd that in almost any worship service you'll ever go to the musicians will be standing/sitting on a raised platform or stage, facing the worshippers, front and center. This hardly seems to me to be the best arrangement for facilitating focus on God.
This had never occurred to me until a missions conference at Moody Bible Institute in 2005 or 2006. On the last night of the conference, prior to the evening speaker, they had three musicians lead all of us in worship. The lights in the auditorium were turned way down. The musicians were dressed in dark clothing and standing in the space between the front row of seats and the edge of the stage, facing the stage. They had music stands with small lamps craned over them so they could read the music and lyrics.
They never introduced themselves, they just invited us into worship and played. Song lyrics were shown on screens on either side of the stage, but the central focus was a large cross on the wall in the middle.
The fact that they were talented musicians and played excellent songs helped, but I think that the set-up was a major factor in that night being one of the best worship experiences of my life. Without being distracted by a charismatic front-man, observing the technical talent of the guitarist, trying to remember which famous actor the drummer reminded me of or keeping track of which singers had their hands raised and which didn't freed me up to focus wholly on God and to really imagine myself before his throne.
I've never seen a similar set-up since and I can't help but miss it. I suspect there are some worship leaders who struggle with enjoying the spotlight and who sometimes want to be the center of attention, but I think the vast majority of them follow the prescribed set-up because they've never thought of doing it any other way or because their venues won't allow for any other arrangement. And some may not have ever thought about what affect it has on whether the music is actual worship or just a concert.
Now, here are two lists of some of my favorite worship songs/hymns. No idea why I thought about putting it together except that I was thinking about some of these songs today and the worship team at my church has played two of them recently. (Yeah!)
Top Ten Modern Worship Songs (in no particular order):
1. Jesus Paid It All -- Kristian Stanfill
2. The Color Green/Calling Out Your Name -- Rich Mullins (I'm cheating and putting these two together)
3. Rescue Is Coming -- David Crowder Band
4. Oh Lord, Most High -- Atlanta Vineyard (Billy Somerville)
5. I Have Been Redeemed -- UK Vineyard (Wendy O'Connel)
6. Beautiful, Scandalous Night -- Leigh Nash and Bebo Norman
7. Be Unto Your Name -- Robin Mark
8. Oh, Happiness -- David Crowder Band
9. O Praise Him (All This For A King) -- David Crowder Band
10. From The Inside Out -- Hillsong
This list changes periodically (generally whenever a new DC*B album comes out).
Top Five Hymns (some of them with their more recent arrangements):
1. Before The Throne of God Above
2. Be Thou My Vision (Fernando Ortega's version is the best I've ever heard)
3. Come Thou Fount
4. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (Indelible Grace version)
5. O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (original arrangement)
In recent years it has really struck me as odd that in almost any worship service you'll ever go to the musicians will be standing/sitting on a raised platform or stage, facing the worshippers, front and center. This hardly seems to me to be the best arrangement for facilitating focus on God.
This had never occurred to me until a missions conference at Moody Bible Institute in 2005 or 2006. On the last night of the conference, prior to the evening speaker, they had three musicians lead all of us in worship. The lights in the auditorium were turned way down. The musicians were dressed in dark clothing and standing in the space between the front row of seats and the edge of the stage, facing the stage. They had music stands with small lamps craned over them so they could read the music and lyrics.
They never introduced themselves, they just invited us into worship and played. Song lyrics were shown on screens on either side of the stage, but the central focus was a large cross on the wall in the middle.
The fact that they were talented musicians and played excellent songs helped, but I think that the set-up was a major factor in that night being one of the best worship experiences of my life. Without being distracted by a charismatic front-man, observing the technical talent of the guitarist, trying to remember which famous actor the drummer reminded me of or keeping track of which singers had their hands raised and which didn't freed me up to focus wholly on God and to really imagine myself before his throne.
I've never seen a similar set-up since and I can't help but miss it. I suspect there are some worship leaders who struggle with enjoying the spotlight and who sometimes want to be the center of attention, but I think the vast majority of them follow the prescribed set-up because they've never thought of doing it any other way or because their venues won't allow for any other arrangement. And some may not have ever thought about what affect it has on whether the music is actual worship or just a concert.
Now, here are two lists of some of my favorite worship songs/hymns. No idea why I thought about putting it together except that I was thinking about some of these songs today and the worship team at my church has played two of them recently. (Yeah!)
Top Ten Modern Worship Songs (in no particular order):
1. Jesus Paid It All -- Kristian Stanfill
2. The Color Green/Calling Out Your Name -- Rich Mullins (I'm cheating and putting these two together)
3. Rescue Is Coming -- David Crowder Band
4. Oh Lord, Most High -- Atlanta Vineyard (Billy Somerville)
5. I Have Been Redeemed -- UK Vineyard (Wendy O'Connel)
6. Beautiful, Scandalous Night -- Leigh Nash and Bebo Norman
7. Be Unto Your Name -- Robin Mark
8. Oh, Happiness -- David Crowder Band
9. O Praise Him (All This For A King) -- David Crowder Band
10. From The Inside Out -- Hillsong
This list changes periodically (generally whenever a new DC*B album comes out).
Top Five Hymns (some of them with their more recent arrangements):
1. Before The Throne of God Above
2. Be Thou My Vision (Fernando Ortega's version is the best I've ever heard)
3. Come Thou Fount
4. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (Indelible Grace version)
5. O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (original arrangement)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Final Countdown
We are in the final days of this pregnancy. At 38 weeks, I'm definitely ready to meet this little guy! While having him out will present its own set of challenges, it's time to be done being pregnant. At my appointment today, we found out that I'm 3cm dilated. Sporadic contractions have begun with increasing frequency. We did discuss the possibility of induction, but both John and I would prefer that labor start on its own this time. Next week, we'll look at scheduling an induction for sometime after the due date--provided I haven't gone into labor by then on my own. But, for now, we continue to wait.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Notes from Unemployment, aka Temporary Retirement (part 1)
A commercial I saw the other day got me thinking about retirement. It made me realize I'm enjoying a kind of temporary retirement right now. What is retirement other than not working anyway? It's getting to do the things you want to do, rather than what you have to do (to earn money).*
* (I still have to do certain things to earn money -- I have to apply for at least two jobs a week to maintain my unemployment benefits. And, of course, I have to be in job search mode. But the amount of time and energy that is dedicated to that varies from day to day and week to week -- by necessity sometimes, by choice at others.)
I have certain obligations that restrict that freedom, but I've had a lot of time to do the things I want to do. I get to spend lots of time with Brennan. This is an obligation (I can't just leave him at home!), but also a joy. We go to the park a lot and play in the shopping mall play areas. We've gone to Barnes and Noble for story time with Clifford. We go to the library. We've gone to the Children's Museum. We hang out at home. It's great!
I've done lots of yard work. This is also an obligation. I can't very well have my pregnant wife pushing around a lawn mower (not when she's going to be pushing a baby out in the near future). Nor can I allow the yard to turn into a jungle/rainforest/wildlife preserve. But it's also kind of fun and fulfilling. I work hard at it, get exercise, feel all manly (I am John: tamer of nature, whacker of weeds, bagger of leaves, etc.) and, by doing it during the week, I'm freeing up the weekends for family time.
I also spend lots of time reading. Not always books, as Naomi would prefer, but magazines (SI, Reader's Digest and Christianity Today) and articles on the internet (from CNN, the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated and other sites). (Naomi thinks the term "surfing" applies to all activity done on the internet and that "surfing" does not include any actual "reading". I protest.)
It's been nice to have more time to do the things I enjoy and am passionate about as well. I have gotten involved with my church's missions committee and recently completed writing and compiling an 85 page handbook for participants in short-term missions trips. I adapted some parts from two similar handbooks, wrote up a debriefing section from talks I used to give for the Edge (Pioneers' summer program) and came up with 15 devotions for team members to use on the field. It was truly a labor of love! I've also been researching opportunities for refugee ministry and outreach to international students here in Richmond. I've been learning a lot and finding strategic ways to get myself and my congregation involved. Naomi and I will soon be "adopting" a Turkish family that are here for a year doing a program at VCU. Should be fun!
Lastly, I've had more time to think. The focus of my thinking is vocation. For the first time in a long time what I've done in the past is not really shedding light on what I should do in the future. So I've had to go back to the beginning and ask the fundamental question: what do I want to do when I grow up?
Before I can answer that I need to know what criteria I should be using to make that choice. Make a certain income? Do what I was created for and where my gifts lie? Do something that has eternal value to it? All three? Pick two? Different voices in my life say different things, and it's tough to discern truth from lies. It takes time, energy, concentration, rumination, meditation and prayer.
Actual retirement is bound to be a bit different. Grandkids instead of kids. Not looking for another job. But there'll still be yard work most likely, things to think about and read up on, hobbies to pursue and other enjoyable things to do.
Sure would be nice to find a job that will allow me to retire someday, but won't have me longing for it every day between now and then.
* (I still have to do certain things to earn money -- I have to apply for at least two jobs a week to maintain my unemployment benefits. And, of course, I have to be in job search mode. But the amount of time and energy that is dedicated to that varies from day to day and week to week -- by necessity sometimes, by choice at others.)
I have certain obligations that restrict that freedom, but I've had a lot of time to do the things I want to do. I get to spend lots of time with Brennan. This is an obligation (I can't just leave him at home!), but also a joy. We go to the park a lot and play in the shopping mall play areas. We've gone to Barnes and Noble for story time with Clifford. We go to the library. We've gone to the Children's Museum. We hang out at home. It's great!
I've done lots of yard work. This is also an obligation. I can't very well have my pregnant wife pushing around a lawn mower (not when she's going to be pushing a baby out in the near future). Nor can I allow the yard to turn into a jungle/rainforest/wildlife preserve. But it's also kind of fun and fulfilling. I work hard at it, get exercise, feel all manly (I am John: tamer of nature, whacker of weeds, bagger of leaves, etc.) and, by doing it during the week, I'm freeing up the weekends for family time.
I also spend lots of time reading. Not always books, as Naomi would prefer, but magazines (SI, Reader's Digest and Christianity Today) and articles on the internet (from CNN, the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated and other sites). (Naomi thinks the term "surfing" applies to all activity done on the internet and that "surfing" does not include any actual "reading". I protest.)
It's been nice to have more time to do the things I enjoy and am passionate about as well. I have gotten involved with my church's missions committee and recently completed writing and compiling an 85 page handbook for participants in short-term missions trips. I adapted some parts from two similar handbooks, wrote up a debriefing section from talks I used to give for the Edge (Pioneers' summer program) and came up with 15 devotions for team members to use on the field. It was truly a labor of love! I've also been researching opportunities for refugee ministry and outreach to international students here in Richmond. I've been learning a lot and finding strategic ways to get myself and my congregation involved. Naomi and I will soon be "adopting" a Turkish family that are here for a year doing a program at VCU. Should be fun!
Lastly, I've had more time to think. The focus of my thinking is vocation. For the first time in a long time what I've done in the past is not really shedding light on what I should do in the future. So I've had to go back to the beginning and ask the fundamental question: what do I want to do when I grow up?
Before I can answer that I need to know what criteria I should be using to make that choice. Make a certain income? Do what I was created for and where my gifts lie? Do something that has eternal value to it? All three? Pick two? Different voices in my life say different things, and it's tough to discern truth from lies. It takes time, energy, concentration, rumination, meditation and prayer.
Actual retirement is bound to be a bit different. Grandkids instead of kids. Not looking for another job. But there'll still be yard work most likely, things to think about and read up on, hobbies to pursue and other enjoyable things to do.
Sure would be nice to find a job that will allow me to retire someday, but won't have me longing for it every day between now and then.
Father & Son(s)
It's been wonderful getting to spend so much time with Brennan over the last five months. Much better than when I was working because I do his bath-time, we run errands in the afternoons, I put him to bed a lot of the time and I pray with him every night. Plus I'm a lot less stressed, so I'm more enjoyable to be around and I have a lot more grace to give him.
I'm worried a bit about what it'll be like for both of us when I finally go back to work. He's a real daddy's boy and we have a very strong bond. I think it's going to be tough on him, especially since there'll be another child in the household by then too. Brennan is in store for a lot of changes. I'll miss the time too and I anticipate feeling a little guilty that I won't get that same kind of time with D2.
D2 will rarely ever have his parents all to himself, as Brennan has had, and he won't have the morning time with me like Brennan did, unless somehow I wind up back in the night shift. I wonder what effect this'll have on him. Will he bond with me less? Will he be jealous of the connection between Brennan and me? Will he be closer to Naomi because of it? (This would be a good thing I think). The worst thought: will he somehow feel less loved?
I'm the youngest of two boys also, but I'm not sure my situation gives us much insight into how to prepare for what's to come. The bottom line for me is this: I love Brennan. I love the bond I have with him. I love the way his first two+ years have gone. I want all of that for D2 also, but I know the circumstances for him will be different. Will different mean worse? Not necessarily. But the concern is there.
I hope and pray for different to be just different -- not better, not worse. I don't know yet how to get there, but I'm inclined to think that it's enough right now just to be aware of the challenge and dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make sure both boys feel wholly loved and secure and happy that they are in each others' lives.
I'm worried a bit about what it'll be like for both of us when I finally go back to work. He's a real daddy's boy and we have a very strong bond. I think it's going to be tough on him, especially since there'll be another child in the household by then too. Brennan is in store for a lot of changes. I'll miss the time too and I anticipate feeling a little guilty that I won't get that same kind of time with D2.
D2 will rarely ever have his parents all to himself, as Brennan has had, and he won't have the morning time with me like Brennan did, unless somehow I wind up back in the night shift. I wonder what effect this'll have on him. Will he bond with me less? Will he be jealous of the connection between Brennan and me? Will he be closer to Naomi because of it? (This would be a good thing I think). The worst thought: will he somehow feel less loved?
I'm the youngest of two boys also, but I'm not sure my situation gives us much insight into how to prepare for what's to come. The bottom line for me is this: I love Brennan. I love the bond I have with him. I love the way his first two+ years have gone. I want all of that for D2 also, but I know the circumstances for him will be different. Will different mean worse? Not necessarily. But the concern is there.
I hope and pray for different to be just different -- not better, not worse. I don't know yet how to get there, but I'm inclined to think that it's enough right now just to be aware of the challenge and dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make sure both boys feel wholly loved and secure and happy that they are in each others' lives.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Happy Easter!
We had a really good Easter weekend this year. We went to Maymont Park yesterday to participate in the family Easter events there. They revamped the egg hunt from last year. Instead of mass chaos, they hid eggs all over the park for families to go find. After some fruitless searching, we gave up and just enjoyed the walk around the park. Brennan's favorite part was collecting as many sticks as he could find!
With the beautiful weather for Easter this year, we did an egg hunt for Brennan outside. It took him a few minutes to figure out exactly what he was supposed to be looking for (other than sticks--typical little boy!).
With the beautiful weather for Easter this year, we did an egg hunt for Brennan outside. It took him a few minutes to figure out exactly what he was supposed to be looking for (other than sticks--typical little boy!).
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